They consistently and continually work on self-awareness. The simple act of knowing who you are can be difficult to maintain when you’re building a successful business. Without it, though, you end up not only making short-sighted decisions and chasing the wrong goals but also damaging a lot of relationships in the process.

They make things happen. There are people who make things happen, people who watch things happen, and people who wonder what happened. Successful people are a catalyst; they make things happen. Driven by passion and fueled by their dreams, they are determined to take action and make a difference.

They don’t allow themselves to become paralyzed by analysis. The degree of study depends on the risk associated with the decision to be made. Successful people don’t get caught up in the tools of analysis but use them appropriately to support important decisions.

They embrace change. Many people are fearful of change and the unknown, but successful people understand that as long as it’s heading in the right direction, change is a positive force.

They have a strategic plan and measurable goals. Successful businesspeople are guided by strategy, not tactics. They avoid chasing anything that isn’t tied directly to their strategy.

They focus90 percent of their time on solutions and only 10 percent on problems. When you take charge of dealing with a problem, you can choose the best way to resolve it instead of stewing over it. This means you’re more likely to get the outcome you want as you influence events with your actions and choices.

They understand that failure is a big part of success. Successful people know that failure is the training grounds for success and that the fear of failure is the only thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve.

They work to build something they believe in. If you want to be a real success story, you have to build something you can put your heart and soul into. Any endeavor will have setbacks and mistakes, and it takes real commitment to fuel the stamina you need for the long haul.

They make success a choice. The average person wishes for success, but successful people choose to succeed. The choice to be successful and follow their heart is backed by a firm conviction that they can do it. The choice to believe in something bigger than yourself is the beginning of every transformation.

They go above and beyond. More than anyone else, successful people understand they can’t just wait around for opportunities to come their way. Instead, they create new opportunities by taking action, by pursuing excellence and refusing mediocrity. They stand out from the crowd because they refuse to be average and to simply go with the flow. They do more than expected and never make excuses. It’s as simple as that.

Lead from within: Success does not come to your life by chance; you have to take action every day to achieve the success you want.

After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.